Andy Montoya
White cheddar cheese is a versatile ingredient, adding a unique and delightful flavour to countless dishes. It is sharp, creamy, salty, and slightly nutty with a tangy flavour. It can be enjoyed on its own, in burgers or sandwiches, or used to make a grilled cheese sandwich. If you are unable to find white cheddar cheese at your local grocery store, there are several substitutes that can be used instead.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Substitutes for white cheddar | Gruyere, Swiss, Havarti, Mozzarella, Provolone, Monterey Jack, Muenster, Gouda, Edam, Colby, Cantal, American |
| Taste | Mild, sweet, nutty, tangy, salty, sharp |
| Texture | Semi-hard, semi-soft, firm, compact, creamy, smooth, stretchy, stringy, soft |
| Origin | Swiss, French, Italian, Dutch |
| Use cases | Melts well, grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese, casseroles, salads, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, omelets, potato gratins, cheese sauces, burgers |
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What You'll Learn
Yellow or orange cheddar
Cheddar cheese is naturally a light, creamy yellow colour. However, the orange variety is so common, especially in America, that most people associate it with that bright orange hue.
The orange colour of cheddar is due to the use of chemical dyes like Yellow No. 5 and Annatto, a natural food colouring derived from the seeds of the tropical achiote tree. Some manufacturers also use the natural colouring in marigold or carrot juice. The addition of these dyes does not change the flavour of the cheese.
White cheddar, on the other hand, is cheddar in its original state, without any added colour. The colour of white cheddar can vary from white to yellow, depending on the season and the cows' diet. The milk of pasture-fed cows can have a tinge of orange beta-carotene.
Some people prefer white cheddar because of the absence of added dyes, while others prefer the traditional orange cheddar. Ultimately, the choice is a matter of personal preference, as the flavour and texture of the cheese remain the same regardless of its colour.
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Gouda
Other substitutes for white cheddar include:
- Muenster—a semi-soft, mild, nutty, and sweet cheese that is a good replacement for hardier dishes like grilled cheese and casseroles.
- Gruyere—a Swiss-style cheese with a firm yet creamy texture and a rich, nutty flavour. It can be used as a substitute in various dishes like mac and cheese or a cheesy casserole.
- Swiss cheese—a type of cheese characterised by its iconic holes and nutty flavour. It melts well and retains its flavour, making it a good choice for sandwiches and salads.
- Havarti—a Danish cheese with a creamy and buttery texture.
- Provolone—an Italian cheese with a semi-hard texture and a mild, slightly smoky flavour. It has a smooth and stretchy texture when melted, making it an excellent choice for grilled cheese sandwiches or as a topping for burgers.
- Monterey Jack—a famous cheese with a mild, buttery flavour and a smooth and creamy texture. It is generally milder than cheddar and lacks its sharper, tangier notes.
- Mozzarella—a semi-soft, mild, stretchy, and stringy cheese that is perfect as a topping for pizza.
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Gruyere
If you're looking for a substitute for Gruyere, there are several options available, depending on the specific requirements of your dish. If you're looking for a similar flavour profile, French Comte cheese, also known as Gruyere's cousin, is a good choice. It has a slightly sweeter and fruitier taste but shares the same nuttiness and creaminess. It is also a semi-hard cheese, making it a great melting option.
For those who want to stick to Swiss cheese, Emmental, or Swiss cheese itself, can be used as a substitute. Emmental is a traditional Swiss cheese with a slightly sweeter flavour than Gruyere, but it melts similarly and has the characteristic large holes or "eyes". Swiss cheese, on the other hand, is milder, butterier, and softer than Gruyere, but it is still an excellent melting cheese that works well in fondues and quiches.
If you're looking for a more affordable option, Cheddar cheese has a similar semi-hard texture and flavour to Gruyere, and it melts in a comparable way in cooked dishes. However, it has a bolder, tangier flavour profile, so you may need to adjust the seasoning in your dish accordingly.
Other potential substitutes include Raclette, Mozzarella, Provolone, Lactose-Free Swiss, Lactose-Free Cheddar, Fontina, Jarlsberg, and Gouda. These cheeses vary in flavour and texture but can be used in different dishes to mimic Gruyere's melting qualities and flavour.
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Swiss cheese
The term "Swiss cheese" is sometimes used in India, although it is also referred to as Emmental. Swiss cheese is characterised by its iconic holes, known as "eyes", and its nutty flavour. The larger the eyes in a Swiss cheese, the more pronounced its flavour. This is because a longer fermentation period gives the bacteria more time to act. The holes were historically seen as a sign of imperfection, and cheese-makers originally tried to avoid them by pressing during production. They only became an identifier of the cheese in modern times.
In the United States, the term "Swiss cheese" refers to a specific class of products that meet criteria in milkfat content, aging time, and flavour profile, closely resembling Emmentaler. This usage is codified by the US Department of Agriculture, which uses the terms Swiss cheese and Emmentaler cheese interchangeably.
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Mozzarella
When looking for a substitute for mozzarella, it is important to consider the desired taste, texture, and melting properties of the cheese. Here are some alternatives that can be used in place of mozzarella:
- Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese with a smooth texture that becomes stringy when melted, making it an excellent choice for dishes where a perfect cheese pull is desired. It has a sharper and tangier taste compared to fresh mozzarella but is still a good substitute in terms of texture and melting properties.
- Cheddar, particularly white cheddar, can be a good substitute for mozzarella in various cooked dishes. White cheddar has a milder flavour than aged cheddar, making it a good choice for those seeking a less intense flavour. It melts easily and is widely accessible. However, its semi-hard texture differs from the soft and chewy nature of mozzarella.
- Swiss cheese has a buttery, nutty, and slightly sweet flavour with a semi-hard texture. It melts well and can be used as a substitute for mozzarella in dishes like lasagna, but it does not stretch in the same way.
- Havarti is a Danish semi-soft cheese with a creamy, buttery, and mildly nutty flavour. It melts well and can be used in dishes such as chicken parmesan, pizza, and lasagna.
- Fontina is an Italian semi-soft cheese with a subtle, slightly nutty and creamy flavour. It melts beautifully, making it suitable for dishes that require melted cheese, such as fondue, grilled cheese sandwiches, or pizza.
- Gouda, especially young gouda, has a smooth, creamy texture and a mild, nutty, and subtly sweet flavour. It can be a good substitute for mozzarella in salads, sandwiches, and baked pasta dishes.
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Frequently asked questions
Some substitutes for white cheddar cheese are yellow or orange cheddar cheese, gouda, gruyere, swiss, havarti, muenster, provolone, colby, edam, cantal, and American cheese.
Most of these substitutes can be found at your local grocery store.
White cheddar cheese is often used in mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, sandwiches, and tacos.
There are many vegan cheese alternatives to white cheddar cheese. Some brands to look out for are Miyokos and Treeline.
